U.S. patent number 4,817,415 [Application Number 07/132,179] was granted by the patent office on 1989-04-04 for fluid line leak detector.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Pan Am Environmental Systems, Inc.. Invention is credited to Joseph R. Mooney.
United States Patent |
4,817,415 |
Mooney |
April 4, 1989 |
Fluid line leak detector
Abstract
An improved fluid line leak detector of the type including a
casing attached to the fluid line having a passageway therethrough
forming an integral part of the fluid line, including a valve
located within the passageway of the casing for dividing the fluid
line into upstream and downstream portions and movable between an
open position in which fluid can freely flow from the upstream
portion to the downstream portion, and including an auxiliary flow
passageway extending between the upstream and downstream portions
of the fluid line for providing a passageway from the upstream
portion to the downstream portion when the valve is in the closed
position. The improvement includes a bar member movably attached to
the casing within the passageway for movement between a first
position in which the valve is free to move from the closed
position to the open position and a second position in which the
valve is prevented from moving to the open position; and a
receptacle associated with the bar member and the auxiliary flow
passageway for causing the bar member to move to the second
position any time the valve is in the closed position and fluid
passes through the auxiliary flow passageway from the upstream
portion to the downstream portion of the fluid line.
Inventors: |
Mooney; Joseph R. (New Orleans,
LA) |
Assignee: |
Pan Am Environmental Systems,
Inc. (Cape Canaveral, FL)
|
Family
ID: |
22452841 |
Appl.
No.: |
07/132,179 |
Filed: |
December 14, 1987 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
73/40.5R |
Current CPC
Class: |
G01M
3/2892 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
G01M
3/28 (20060101); G01M 003/04 (); F17D 003/04 () |
Field of
Search: |
;73/40,4.5R ;222/52 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Levy; Stewart J.
Assistant Examiner: Williams; Hezron E.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Walker & McKenzie
Claims
I claim:
1. An improved fluid line leak detector of the type including a
casing attached to said fluid line and having a passageway
therethrough forming an integral part of said fluid line, including
a valve means located within said passageway of said casing for
dividing said fluid line into upstream and downstream portions and
movable between an open position in which fluid can freely flow
from said upstream portion to said downstream portion, and
including an auxiliary flow passageway means extending between said
upstream and downstream portions of said fluid line for providing a
passageway from said upstream portion to said downstream portion
when said valve means is in said closed position; wherein the
improvement comprises:
(a) a bar member movably attached to said casing within said
passageway for movement between a first position in which said
valve means is free to move from said closed position to said open
position and a second position in which said valve means is
prevented from moving to said open position; and
(b) receptacle means associated with said bar member and said
auxiliary flow passageway means for causing said bar member to move
to said second position any time said valve means is in said closed
position and fluid passes through said auxiliary flow passageway
means from said upstream portion to said downstream portion of said
fluid line.
2. The improvement of claim 1 in which said bar member is elongated
and includes a first end and a second end, said first end of said
bar member being pivotally attached to said casing.
3. The improvement of claim 2 in which said receptacle means
includes a cup member attached to said second end of said bar
member.
4. The improvement of claim 2 in which said receptacle means is
positioned adjacent said second end of said bar member.
5. The improvement of claim 2 in which said auxiliary flow
passageway means includes a tube having an entrance end
communicating with said upstream portion of said fluid line and
having an exit end communicating with said downstream portion of
said fluid line, said receptacle means receiving said exit end of
said tube when said bar member is in said first position.
6. An improved blocking means for a fluid line leak detector of the
type including a casing disposed in a fluid line, a valve member
disposed in the casing for movement between a fully open position
in which fluid is allowed to flow through said fluid line and a
closed position, and auxiliary flow passageway means for allowing a
small amount of fluid to bypass said valve member, and for
preventing said valve member from moving to said fully open
position in the event of a leak downstream of said valve member,
wherein said improvement comprises:
(a) a bar member movably attached to said casing for movement
between a first position in which said valve member is free to move
from said closed position to said fully open position and a second
position in which said valve means is prevented from moving to said
fully open position; and
(b) receptacle means associated with said bar member and said
auxiliary flow passageway means for causing said bar member to move
to said second position any time said valve means is in said closed
position and fluid passes through said auxiliary flow passageway
means from said upstream portion to said downstream portion of said
fluid line.
7. The improvement of claim 6 in which said bar member is elongated
and includes a first end and a second end, said first end of said
bar member being pivotally attached to said casing.
8. The improvement of claim 7 in which said receptacle means
includes a cup member attached to said second end of said bar
member.
9. The improvement of claim 7 in which said receptacle means is
positioned adjacent said second end of said bar member.
10. A fluid line leak detector for detecting any fluid leak in a
fluid line; said detector comprising, in combination:
(a) a casing attached to said fluid line and having a passageway
therethrough forming an integral part of said fluid line;
(b) valve means located within said passageway of said casing for
dividing said fluid line into upstream and downstream portions and
movable between a fully open position in which fluid can freely
flow from said upstream portion to said downstream portion;
(c) auxiliary flow passageway means extending between said upstream
and downstream portions of said fluid line for providing a fluid
passageway from said upstream portion to said downstream portion
when said valve means is in said closed position;
(d) a bar member movably attached to said casing within said
passageway for movement between a first position in which said
valve means is free to move from said closed position to said fully
open position and a second position in which said valve means is
prevented from moving to said open position; and
(e) receptacle means associated with said bar member and said
auxiliary flow passageway means for causing said bar member to move
to said second position any time said valve means is in said closed
position and fluid passes through said auxiliary flow passageway
means from said upstream portion to said downstream portion of said
fluid line.
11. The detector of claim 10 in which said bar member is elongated
and includes a first end and a second end, said first end of said
bar member being pivotally attached to said casing.
12. The detector of claim 11 in which said receptacle means
includes a cup member attached to said second end of said bar
member.
13. The detector of claim 11 in which said receptacle means is
positioned adjacent said second end of said bar member.
14. The detector of claim 11 in which said auxiliary flow
passageway means includes a tube having an entrance end
communicating with said upstream portion of said fluid line and
having a exit end communicating with said downstream portion of
said fluid line, said receptacle means receiving said exit end of
said tube when said bar member is in said first portion.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates, in general, to means for detecting
leaks in a pressurized fluid system and, more specifically, to an
improved fluid line leak detector.
2. Description of the Related Art:
The present inventor is the inventor of Mooney, U.S. Pat. No.
3,817,087, issued June 18, 1974. The U.S. Pat. No. 3,817,087
discloses a fluid line leak detector which includes a casing for
being disposed in the fluid line, a poppet valve for controlling
the passage of fluid through the casing, and a bypass passageway
for allowing a small amount of fluid to bypass the poppet valve. A
blocking member is provided in the casing downstream of the poppet
valve for preventing the poppet valve from fully opening in the
event of a leak in the fluid line downstream of the casing. More
specifically, a "water wheel" is coupled to the blocking member and
is associated with the discharge end of the bypass passageway for
moving the blocking member to the blocking position in the event of
a leak downstream of the bypass passageway. The present invention
is an improvement of the 3,817,087 patent and is not disclosed or
suggested thereby.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed toward providing an improved
fluid line leak detector. The concept of the present invention
relates in general to an improvement of the blocking means
disclosed in Mooney, U.S. Pat. No. 3,817,087.
The improved fluid line leak detector of the present invention
includes a casing attached to a fluid line and having a passageway
therethrough forming an integral part of the fluid line, includes a
valve located within the passageway of the casing for dividing the
fluid line into upstream and downstream portions and movable
between an open position in which fluid can freely flow from the
upstream portion to the downstream portion; includes an auxiliary
flow passageway extending between the upstream and downstream
portions of the fluid line for providing a passageway from the
upstream portion to the downstream portion when the valve is in the
closed position, includes a bar member movably attached to the
casing within the passageway for movement between a first position
in which the valve is free to move from the closed position to the
open position and a second position in which the valve is prevented
from moving to the open position; and includes receptacle means
associated with the bar member and the auxiliary flow passageway
for causing the bar member to move to the second position any time
the valve is in the closed position and fluid passes through the
auxiliary flow passageway from the upstream portion to the
downstream portion of the fluid line.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a somewhat diagrammatic view of the fluid line leak
detector of the present invention shown in combination with a
typical automotive service station fuel system.
FIG. 2 is a vertical cross section view through the longitudinal
centerline of the fluid line leak detector of the present
invention.
FIG. 3 is a sectional view as taken on line III--III of FIG. 2.
FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a portion of FIG. 3 with certain
components shown in moved positions.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
The preferred embodiment of the improved fluid line leak detector
11 of the present invention is for use in a fluid system such as,
for example, the typical automotive service station fuel system 13
shown somewhat diagrammatically in FIG. 1. Such a fuel system 13
includes a fluid line 15, a discharge or outlet valve 17 coupled to
one end of the fluid line 15, and a fluid source 19 coupled to the
other end of the fluid line 15. The fluid source 19 typically
includes a fluid tank 20 in which fluid such as gasoline is
contained. A vent pipe 21 or the like and a pump 22 are typically
associated with the fluid tank 20 for allowing fluid to be pumped
through the fluid line 15 from the fluid tank 20 to the outlet
valve 17 as will now be apparent to those skilled in the art. A
pump control switch 23 is typically associated with the outlet
valve 17 for starting and stopping the pump 22. The pump control
switch 23 preferably includes time-delay means associated with the
output valve 17 to cause a 6 or 7 second delay from the time the
pump control switch 23 is activated to start the pump 22 until the
time the outlet valve 17 can be opened to discharge fluid from the
fluid line 15 to an automobile or the like. The specific
construction and operation of such a system 13 is well known to
those skilled in the art.
The detector 11 is interposed in the system 13 intermediate the
pump 22 and the outlet valve 17. The detector 11 may be located
below ground level and a "man hole" cover 28 may be provided to
provide access to the detector 11. The detector 11 preferably
includes a valve 29 having a valve member 31 dividing the system 13
into an upstream portion 33 and a downstream portion 35. The
detector 11 includes a hollow housing or casing 39, the interior of
which is divided into an upstream chamber 37 and a downstream
chamber 41. More specifically, the interior of the casing 39 has a
wall 40 dividing it into the upstream and downstream chambers 37,
41. The upstream portion 33 includes the upstream chamber 37, any
upstream portion 15' of the fluid line 15 between the valve 29 and
the fluid tank 20, and any related passageway upstream of the valve
member 31. The downstream portion 35 includes the downstream
chamber 41, the downstream portion 15" of the fluid line 15 between
the valve 29 and the outlet valve 17, and any related passageway
downstream of the valve member 31. The valve member 32 is located
between the upstream and downstream chambers 37, 41. More
specifically, an aperture 42 is provided through the wall 40 and
the valve member 31 is movable between a closed position as shown
in solid lines in FIGS. 2 and 3 in which normal flow from the
upstream chamber 37 to the downstream chamber 41 through the
aperture 42 is prevented, and an open position as shown in broken
lines in FIG. 3 and solid lines in FIG. 4 in which normal flow
through the aperture 42 is allowed. The detector 11 also includes a
bypass passageway or, more accurately, an auxiliary flow passageway
means 43 extending between the upstream portion 33 and the
downstream portion 35 to provide an auxiliary flow about the valve
member 31 in the event of a leak L in the downstream portion 35
(see, in general, FIG. 3).
The auxiliary flow passageway means 43 may include an elongated,
hollow tube 73 coupled to the upstream chamber 37 by a compression
fitting 75 or the like and coupled to the downstream chamber 41 by
a compression fitting 76 or the like. The end 77 of the tube 73
coupled to the downstream chamber 41, or an nozzle member attached
to the end 77 of the tube 73, preferably extends into the
downstream chamber 41. The end 78 of the tube 73 coupled to the
upstream chamber 37 may extend into or otherwise communicate with
the upstream chamber 37. Thus, fluid can enter the end 78 of the
tube 73 from the upstream chamber 37, pass through the tube 73 and
be discharged from the end 76 of the tube 73 into the downstream
chamber 41 (see, in general, FIGS. 3 and 4). The auxiliary flow
passageway means 43 thus allows fluid to pass from the upstream
chamber 37 to the downstream chamber 41 even when the valve member
31 is closed.
The improvement of the present invention relates primarily to a
blocking member 87 for preventing the valve member 31 from moving
to the fully opened position in the event of a leak in the
downstream portion 15" of the fluid line 15. The blocking member 87
is designed generally as shown in FIGS. 2-4 using the lever
principle with its mechanical advantage. Thus, the blocking member
87 preferably includes a rigid, elongated bar or bar member 89
having a second end 93 and a second end 93. The first end 91 of the
bar member 89 is pivotally attached to the casing 39 via a pivot
rod 95 or the like. The pivot rod 95 may be attached to the casing
33 by boss members 96 or the like. The first end 91 of the bar
member 89 can thus be pivoted between a first position in which the
valve member 31 can freely move to a completely opened position as
shown in solid lines in FIG. 3 and in broken lines in FIG. 4 to
allow fluid to freely flow through the valve 29, and a second
position in which the valve member 31 is prevented from moving to
the completely opened position as shown in broken lines in FIG. 3
and in solid lines in FIG. 4 to prevent fluid from freely flowing
through the valve 29. A cup or female shaped receptacle 97 is
formed into or attached to the bar member 89 adjacent the first end
91 thereof and positioned so that when the bar member 89 is in the
first position, the distal end of the nozzle member 77 will be
located within the receptacle 97 as shown in solid lines in FIG. 3
and in broken lines in FIG. 4. A counterbalance or counterweight
member may be attached adjacent the first end 91 of the bar member
89 to normally urge the bar member 89 to the first position. It
will be noted that the receptacle 97 may, in fact, define such a
counterweight member although an additional weight may be added if
desired. The casing 39 may be provided with a screw-off cap 99 or
the like to allow access to the various internal components as will
now be apparent to those skilled in the art. A relatively small
force exerted into and against the receptacle 97 by fluid passing
through the auxiliary flow passageway means 43 from the upstream
chamber 37 to the downstream chamber 41 will be effective to move
the bar member 89 to the second position as will now be apparent to
those skilled in the art. Thus, a very low leakage flow (e.g., 0.25
gallon-per-hour) through the passageway means 43 will cause the bar
member 89 to swing out to the second position over the valve member
31 and prevent the valve member 31 from fully opening thereby
resulting in restricted output flow from the outlet valve 17 (e.g.,
2 to 3 gallons-per-minute). This restricted flow is a "leak
signal."If there is no leak and the outlet valve 17 is closed, the
fluid pressure on both ends of the passageway means 43 will be
substantially equal, there will be no flow through the passageway
means 43 and the bar member 89 will remain in the first position.
When the outlet valve 17 is opened, the valve member 31 pops open
before the bar member 89 can move to the second position and there
is full flow from the outlet valve 17. In this circumstance, the
bar member 89 is finally pushed out against the side of the valve
member 31 toward the second position after the valve member 31 has
opened and does not inhibit the opening of the valve member 31.
As thus constructed and used, the present invention provides a
fluid line leak detector of the type including a blocking means for
preventing full fluid flow through the fluid line in the event of a
leak in the fluid line which can be moved to the blocking position
by a relatively small force by leakage by-pass liquid from a
by-pass passageway.
Although the present invention has been described and illustrated
with respect to a preferred embodiment and a preferred use
therefor, it is not to be so limited since modifications and
changes can be made therein which are within the full intended
scope of the invention.
* * * * *